The Toronto Argonauts (8-7) hosted the Montreal Alouettes (11-3-1) on a rainy Saturday night from BMO Field to conclude Week 17. Earlier in the day, Montreal clinched the Eastern Division after the Ottawa Redblacks lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. On the other side, Toronto had a chance to get closer to second place if they could beat Montreal.
This was the third and final meeting of the season. Montreal had won the first two games, and Toronto had a lot to play for to avoid getting swept for the season.
First Quarter:
Toronto got the ball to start the game from their 41-yard line. Toronto opened the game with running backs Ka’Deem Carey, Deonta McMahon, and Daniel Adeboboye combining with five carries logging 44 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 17-yard line. On third down, kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 11:37 left.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo started their first drive by throwing two passes for 8 yards. Toronto got the ball back on their 18-yard line. On the second play, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly attempted to throw the ball to David Ungerer III but Dionte Ruffin was there for the interception. He returned it for 27 yards to reach the Argonauts’ 10-yard line.
On first down, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a short pass to Walter Fletcher. He broke a couple of tackles to score a 10-yard touchdown for a 7-3 lead with 8:30 left of the first quarter.
Toronto’s offense started their next drive from the Alouettes’ 48-yard line. Toronto running backs Ka’Deem Carey, Deonta McMahon, and Daniel Adeboboye combined with three carries logging 17 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 31-yard line. Quarterback Chad Kelly threw two passes for 26 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 5-yard line.
On third down, Toronto tried to get Montreal to jump the count but they did not flinch. Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 17-yard field goal and the Argonauts trailed the Alouettes 7-6 with 4:05 left of the first quarter.
Montreal went two-and-out on their next drive. Toronto got the ball back with 2:17 left. Running back Ka’Deem Carey rushed for a gain of three yards, followed by quarterback Chad Kelly throwing two passes for 84 yards, including a 77-yard pass to Makai Polk to reach the Alouettes’ 14-yard line. The drive stalled when Kelly was sacked by Geoffrey Cantin-Arku for a 7-yard loss backing them up to the Alouettes’ 21-yard line. Montreal led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Montreal had 25 yards on offense (21 yards passing, 4 yards rushing), one first down, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized one five for five yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 4 of 4 passes for 21 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for four yards.
Toronto had 168 yards on offense (110 yards passing, 65 yards rushing, 7 yards lost), six first downs, 0 for 2 in the red zone, and the team was penalized two times for 15 yards. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 4 of 7 passes for 110 yards, and one interception.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 28-yard field goal for a 9-7 lead with 14:53 left. After Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw an 11-yard pass to Kaion Julien-Grant to set up second and short, backup quarterback Dominique Davis fumbled the ball on a bad snap. Toronto defensive back Benjie Franklin recovered the ball on the Alouettes’ 48-yard line with 14:18 left.
Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey and quarterback Chad Kelly led the offense down to the four-yard line before Lirim Hajrullahu made an 11-yard field goal for a 12-7 lead with 10:41 left of the second quarter.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed three straight passes for 22 yards until the drive stalled. Toronto’s offense was back out starting from their 20-yard line. Running Ka’Deem Carey got the drive started with two carries for 19 yards to reach their 39-yard line. Running back Deonte McMahon and Daniel Adeboboye combined with two carries for seven yards.
Montreal was also tacked with a face mask penalty and an offsides penalty moving them up to their 14-yard line. Toronto running back Daniel Adeboboye rushed for a gain of 9 yards, and Ka’Deem Carey finished the drive off with a 5-yard touchdown for a 19-7 lead with 4:51 left before halftime.
For the next two possessions, both teams went two-and-out. Montreal had the ball on their 25-yard line with 2:25 left before halftime. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed two passes for 50 yards to Cole Spieker and Charleston Rambo to reach Argonauts’ 35-yard line. On the next play, Fajardo threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker and the Alouettes trailed the Argonauts 19-14 with 1:37 left before halftime.
On the kickoff, Montreal kicker Jose Carlos Maltos kicked the ball 84 yards where Toronto returner Janarion Grant watched it bounce into the endzone before taking a knee to give up the single point. It was now 19-15 Toronto with 1:30 left of the second quarter.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw two passes for 18 yards but they were short of the first down. Toronto punter John Haggerty punted the ball 42 yards to the direction of Montreal returner James Letcher Jr. He got a good block in front of him speeding his way for a 100-yard touchdown return putting the Alouettes up 22-19 with 37 seconds left.
Toronto returner Deonte McMahon returned the kickoff for 28 yards to reach their 43-yard line. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed a 26-yard pass to Damonte Coxie to reach the Alouettes’ 42-yard line. With two seconds left, kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 49-yard field goal and the game was tied 22-22 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Montreal had 137 yards on offense (131 yards passing, 6 yards rushing), 5 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized five times for 45 yards. The offense was out there for nine minutes and 26 seconds in the first half. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 11 of 12 passes (92%) for 131 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for four yards.
Running back Walter Fletcher had one carry for three yards, made one catch for 10 yards, and one touchdown. Wide receiver Cole Spieker made two catches for 74 yards, and one touchdown, and Kaion Julien-Grant made three catches for 22 yards. Montreal’s defense made two sacks and one interception.
Toronto had 320 yards on offense (173 yards passing, 155 yards rushing, 8 yards lost), 15 first downs, 1 for 4 in the red zone, and the team was penalized three times for 30 yards. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 9 of 16 passes (56.3%) for 133 yards, and one interception.
Running back Ka’Deem Carey had 9 carries for 80 yards, and one touchdown, Deonte McMahon had four carries for 61 yards, and Daniel Adeboboye had six carries for 14 yards. Wide receiver Makai Polk made two catches for 81 yards, and DaVaris Daniels made two catches for 26 yards. Toronto’s defense made two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
Third Quarter:
Montreal got the ball to start the third quarter from their 48-yard line. Montreal started the drive with three straight running plays led by Walter Fletcher getting two carries for 15 yards, while quarterback Cody Fajardo had one carry for 10 yards to reach the Argonauts’ 37-yard line. On third down, kicker Jose Carlos Maltos missed a 45-yard field goal wide left. Toronto returner Janarion Grant quickly conceded the single point giving the Alouettes a 23-22 lead with 11:51 left.
Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey started the next drive with a three-yard run. Quarterback Chad Kelly went to work by throwing three passes for 47 yards, and two carries for 14 yards to reach the Alouettes’ six-yard line. On the next play, running Daniel Adeboboye scored a six-yard touchdown for a 28-23 lead with 8:27 left of the third quarter to cap off a seven-play drive for 70 yards.
For the rest of the third quarter, both offenses did not do much. Toronto had 22 yards, while Montreal had 48 yards. Toronto got the ball on their 30-yard line to start the fourth quarter up 28-23.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Toronto’s offense went on an eight-play drive for 52 yards leading to kicker Lirim Hajrullahu making a 35-yard field goal extending their lead 31-23 with 11:31 left. During the drive, quarterback Chad Kelly suffered a cramp in his right knee and Cameron Dukes came in to finish the drive. Kelly was ok and he returned to the game on their next drive.
Montreal running back Walter Fletcher picked up five yards to start the next drive. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed three passes for 27 yards to reach the Argonauts’ 38-yard line. Two plays later, Fajardo found Reggie White Jr. for 34 yards reaching the Argonauts’ two-yard line.
After two failed attempts at the end zone, Dominique Davis scored a one-yard touchdown. They went for a two-point conversion where Fajardo threw to Tyler Snead to get two points. The game was tied 31-31 with 6:02 left of the game capping off a nine-play drive for 70 yards.
Toronto running backs Ka’Deem Carey and Daniel Adeboboye started the next drive with two carries logging 33 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 37-yard line. Quarterback Chad Kelly threw two passes for 18 yards, and Ka’Deem Carey had an additional carry for four yards to reach the Alouettes’ 15-yard line. A procedure penalty on Toronto backed them up five yards before kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 27-yard field goal for a 34-31 lead with 2:17 left of the game.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed two passes for five yards. On third down, Toronto pressured Fajardo and his pass to Charleston Rambo was incomplete. Toronto marched down to the Alouettes’ 30-yard line where kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 37-yard field goal for a 37-31 lead with 49 seconds left. Hajrullahu set a new franchise record with eight field goals in a game.
On third down, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo’s pass was intercepted by Tyshon Blackburn and the game was over. The Argonauts defeated the Alouettes 37-31.
Final Stats:
Toronto had 517 yards on offense (293 yards passing, 234 yards rushing, 10 yards lost), 25 first downs, 2 for 6 in the red zone, and the team was penalized 8 times for 75 yards. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 19 of 30 passes (63%) for 287 yards, one interception, and three carries for 25 yards. Running backs Ka’Deem Carey, Daniel Adeboboye, and Deonte McMahon combined with 26 carries logging 196 yards, two touchdowns, and five catches for 56 yards.
Wide receiver Makai Polk made five catches for 103 yards, and Damonte Coxie made three catches for 58 yards. Toronto’s defense made 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery, and six tackles on special teams.
Montreal had 288 yards on offense (225 yards passing, 68 yards rushing, 5 yards lost), 14 first downs, 2 for 2 in the red zone, and the team was penalized six times for 55 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 20 of 29 passes (69%) for 225 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for 22 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had 8 carries for 44 yards, two catches for 9 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Cole Spieker made three catches for 99 yards, and one touchdown, while Reggie White Jr. made two catches for 40 yards. Montreal’s defense made 51 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and 8 tackles on special teams.
Both of these teams have byes next week. Toronto’s next game will be on Friday, October 11th, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 8:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Montreal Alouettes host the Ottawa Redblacks on Thanksgiving Day Monday at 1 pm on TSN and CBS Sports Network. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
